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There was a ‘Double B’ situation behind the sound booth at Alison Moyet‘s recent New York gig and her Others Tour. That’s right, my friend Brian Flink and I first saw Alison together during Yaz’s Reconnected Tour in 2008 and we never miss a chance to see one of my all-time favorite singers.

I’ve never seen Alison more comfortable and happy to be on stage than this show. It’s a celebration of her transformation as an artist and human with selections from her last two albums, The Minutes, recently released Other and other deep tracks from her 35-year career. I have so much respect and admiration for Alison from The Minutes, which the press focused on her physical transformation to Other, which is more introspective, self-actualized and a reflection of her new life in Brighton, where she now lives, and can wear feathers and no one bats an eye. In other words, she’s always felt like an ‘other,’ which is why so many gay fans get her. Despite two do-overs, she serenaded her gay fan base with a beautiful cover of ‘The Man in the Wings,’ also found on The Turn album.

Some of the best moments were her unexpected choices. ‘Ski’ from Hometime is such an underrated song and she kills it. ‘Wishing You Were Here’ from Hoodoo, ‘Getting Into Something’ off Essex, and ‘Bring Your Love Down’ from the Yaz album Upstairs at Eric’s were welcome additions to the setlist. But new songs ‘I Germinate,’ ‘Beautiful Gun’ and ‘Happy Giddy’ further cement my long-lasting affection for Moyet. She has two signature moves that make me love her more — the stiff shoulder shimmy and mic stand choreography. All on display when performing upbeat Yaz songs, ‘Changeling’ and ‘Right as Rain’ and it does make me happy giddy.

There are ‘others’ who are better at proper reviews than me. I recommend this one, along with Alison’s own tour blog for all the latest. She invited her fans to follow her journey, and the life of an ‘old bird’ on the road. Old bird or not, she is one of the rarest birds and I cherish every word, lyric and joke she has to offer. God bless you, Alfie.